Telephone selecting apparatus.



HMS-9.534. I PATENTBD JULY 9, 1907. w. 1). WATKINS.

TELEPHONE SELECTING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED APR. 30, 1906.

2 exams 9mm? N will,

A TTORNE Y5 UNITED STATlig OFFICE,

WILLIAM D. WATKINS, OF SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO WATKINS MANUFAorU'Rme 00., or SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION.

TELEPHONE SELECT1NG- APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 9, 1907.

Application filed April so, 1906. Serial no. si4,4s1.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM D. WATKINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Jose, in the county of Santa Clara and State of California, have invented a new and useful Telephone SelectingApparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to selective signalipg systems, and has for its principal object to provide mechanism of novel construction, whereby the local circuits of any desired telephone may be placed in communication with the main line while the circuits of all the remaining subsrn-ibers on the line are cut out.

A further object of the invention is to provide a circuit closing member that is arranged to receive a step by step movement toward circuit closing position, and to provide a novel means for guiding said member during its movement.

, A. still further object of the invention is topiovide a novel form of electro-magnetically ahtuat-ed circuit closer which, after a predetermined number of operations, is allowed to move by'gravity into engagement with the circuit controlling contacts With these and other objects in view, as will more fully hereinafter appear, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts, h oin-alter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various'changes in the form, proportions,

size and minor details of the structure may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

luthe accompanying dniwingsz l igure 1 is a front elevation of a selecting device constructed in accordance with the invention, the lid or cover of the inclosing casing being removed. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same on' the line 2--2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the guiding device for the circuit closing member. Fig. 4 isa similar view of the upper end of the circuit closing member. Fig. 5 is a detail plan view, partly in section, showing the contacts which the circuit closer engages while in normal position. Fig. (i is a side elevation drawn to an enlarged scale, and illustrating the contacts whicharc co -a ed at the end of the selcctin opm'ation. Fig. 7 is a diagram showing the wiring connections.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts throughout the several ligures of the drawings.

The apparatus forming the subject of the present invrmtion is designed princil'lally for use in connection with telephonev lines, although it may be omployedior signaling circuits generally.

Each telephone on the line is equipped with one of the selecting devices forming the subject of the present invention, and these are placed under the control of the operator at central, who by closing the circuit a number of times COIIOSPUllLllIlg to the number of the sub-station desired, may connect that station with the line to the exclusion of all other stations along the line.

The mechanism is prclerably arranged within a suitable casing 10 which may be placed at one side of the telephone, or at any other convenient point, or the mechanism may be placed within the switch box of the telephone, if desired.

Arranged within the casing 10 is an electro-magnet 11, having a polarized armature 12 pivoted on a bracket 13 at a point between the two poles of the electro-mag net. The armature is extended in the form of an arm 15 to the outer end of which is pivoted a selecting arm 16, which is raised and lowered as the circuit is closed through the electro-magnet.

In the upper portion of the casing is secured ablock 18 which carries a guiding device for the selecting arm. This guiding device comprises two intersecting series of guide plates 20 and 21. The lower edge of car-h ol' the upper plates, and the upper edge of each of the lower plates are bent to the lel't, and the meeting or intersect ing edges of the plates are disposed in staggered relation in order to form a zigzag passage way for a pin 2-1 that projects from the selecting arm. At the extreme left of both series ot plates is a guiding plate 25 which follows the general contourot' both sets oi plates and extends for some distance below the lower edges ol' the lower set in order to form a stop or initial position of rest for the pin 24. The pin is normally held against this stop plate by a coiled spring 28,'extending between the selecting arm and the arm 15 When the selecting arm is in thisinitial position oi rest, as shown in Fig. 1, it engages a spring contact 29, and forces the some against a second contact 30 for the purpose ol' closing the local circuit of the subscriber I with the mainline, this circuit being broken, however,

at the receiver hook whentlre latter is hold down by the'weight oi the receiver.

Secured to the base plate or other support at a point below the selecting arm guiding device are two sets of contacts 32, 33, 34 and 235, these being insulated from each other by a strip 36 [ormed ol mica, rubber or other material. These contactsarearranged atdil'fercnt points in the different telephones, that is to say, the contacts belonging to station-1'0. 2 will be arrang d at :1 point below the space between the second and third guiding plates 21. The contacts shown in Fig. 1 are arranged in the space below the fifth and sixth plates. The contacts. of station No. 8 would be at a point below the space botwecn the eighth and ninth plates, and so on, and when corresponding to-the number of the station to be called, and this will render the pole of the clectro-magnet the battery 53 and the pole sending currents in one direction or the other direction as required during the selecting and restoring operations.

- R, wire 64, binding post 65, wire 66, wire 67, contacts 29 and 30, wire 68, to binding post 69,

to the number of the desired station.

electro-magnet 11, wire 72, wire 73, contact 74-, re-

' line except that of the calling subscriber, who, having removed his receiver from the hook, has broken his selecting circuit and placed engagement with the contact of the selecting arm 'may travel upward against the the selecting arm has been moved the proper number N of times, in accordance with the station to be called, a circuit closing pin 38 carried by the arm will move down into engagement with the uppermost'contact 32, and will close a circuit between the contacts 32 and 33,. and a second circuit between the contacts 34 and 35, thus placing the called station in communication with the line to the exclusion of all other stations.

Referring now to the diagram in Fig. 7, 50 and 51 represent the main line wires between which the stations A and B are bridged and 56 represents a switch located at the central station for the purpose of closing theselecting circuit, provision being made for sending a. current in either direction, and for this purpose two butteries 52 and 53 are shown, the positive pole of one buttery being connoctedto a switch point 54, while the negative pole 01' the other is connected to a switch point 55. These are placed under the control of the switch 56 and the latter is connected to the wire 50. It will he understood that this arrangement is merely typical. any suitable mechanism being employed for the purpose of During the selecting operation the switch is moved into engagement with the switch point 54 a number oitilnes active, and the latter will attract the armature and re lease the same as many times as the circuit is made and broken. At the completion of this operation and after the conversation is finished, the circuit is closed through oi the clectro-magnet uttracts-the armature, restoring all of the selecting devices to normal position.

Wheneny subscriber wishes to open communication with another subscriber, he removes his receiver from the hook, and he is instantly connected with central station, the circuit being traced from wire 51 to wire 60, receiver hook 61, receiver hook contact 62, wire 63, the secondary oi the inductorium 1, receiver wire to line wire 50. The subscriber then informs central oi the number of the station desired and central proceeds to move the'switch 56 into. and from engagement with theswitch point 54 a number of times corresponding Each time the circuit is closed, the current trav erses the wire 50, wire 70, binding post 69, wire 71,

ceiver hook'fil, and wire 60 oievery station along the the same beyond the control of the central station. As soon as this first closing of the circuit occurs, the selecting arm 16 moves from 29, and said contact thereupon separates .irorri the contact 30, and the circuits of all of the subscribers along the line are disconnected, excepting that of the calling subscriber,

communication .with central until the selecting arms are again restored to initial position.

Each time the calling circuit-is closed, the pin 2 fall into engagement with thecontact latter will be moved down for the purpose of closing right'hand face of one of the lower plates21fand striking against the bentlower edge of plate 20 will be deflected toward 'the right, and then when the magnet is deenergi zed, the pin will fall into engagement with the bent upper edge oi the.

next plate 21, and will be guided down between two of the lower plates 21, but will not pass below said plates, excessive downward movement being prevented by the armature spring 13 At the completion oi the final circuit closing operation, say the filth for instance, the final breaking of the circuit at the switch 56 will allow the pin 38 to 32, and the two circuits, one between the contacts. 32 and 33, and the other between the contacts .34'and 35. The first of these is the vcalling circuit, which may be traced from the wire 51, through wire 60, receiver hook 61,contact' 74, wire 73,. the electro-magnets of r the call bell 77, wire 78, contact 33, contact 32, and wire 79 to ground, there being means at centralalso connected between the wire 51v and ground for sending a calling signal along the line and as the calling circuit of but one subscriber is closed, only the call bell oi that subscriber will be'sounded. The second circuit is the talking circuit of the called subscriber,

and when the latter removes his receiver from the .the adjacent hook after hearing the signal, this talkirig circuit be traced from the wire (30 through receiver hook 61f contact 62, wire 63, the secondary of; the inductori'um,

the receiver, wire 64, binding post 65, wire 66, wire 80, contact 34, Contact 35, wire 81, to binding post 69,

After the conversation is finished, and the'iact is announced to the central station, in any manner, the

central station operator moves the switch 56 into en gagement with,the switch point 55, sending a current wire 70, to the line wire 50, thus bridging the local 1 V talking circuit between the two mainlinewires.

over the wire 50, and this causes the electro-magnet I e at each station to attract 'theright hand end ofthe armature l2, drawing down the selgcting 'arm 16 until 7 the pin 24 'is below the plates'21, whereupon the spring 28 carries the the pin 24'engages, against the end plate 25, assuming its initial position of rest, and the arm further engages the contact 29 at each station and closes communicaselecting arm to the left, untiltion between .the local talking circuit of eachstation and the main line, so that the. line is clear for any subscriber to make a call.

1 'claim:- 1. In selective signaling tacts, an oscillatory selecting member, for actuating the same, link means for guidlng the selectlug member ln u zigzag path into clrcult closing position. 2. In selecting signaling a pparatus circult closing con tacts, an oscillatory selecting member movable by gravity apparatus, clr'ciilt closing con lnto engagement with the contacts, means for actuating and means for guiding said member in a I said member, zigzag path into circuit closing position. 3. In a telephone selecting apparatus, circuit closing contacts, an electro-magnetlcally actuated selecting arm H1) ranged to travel from the position of rest In a zigzag path an electro-m'agnet toward said contacts, nn electro-magnet for actuating the selecting arm, and means for guiding said arm.

4. In telephone selecting apparatus, an electro-magnetically actuated-selecting arm, circuit closing and meaus'i'ou' guiding said arm in a zigzag path from a position oi test toward sald Contacts.

contacts,

for advancing said selecting mon her step by step in a zigzag path toward snidconi'acls.

(ii In selecting apparatus, an cicctro-nmgnetically actuated selecting arm having a projecting member, and a guiding means comprising a pair of sets of plates, the adjacent ends of which are bent laterally, and are disposed in staggered relation to form a zigzag path between them.

7. In telephone selecting apparatus, an electro-magnetically actuated selecting arm, a pin 011111;, projecting therefrom, and a pin guiding means comprising a pair of sets of angularly disposed plates having their;adjacent edges disposed in staggered order, and laterally bent to form a zigzag path; for the travel of the pin. 1

8. In telephone selecting apparatus, an electro-magnet, a polarized armature, a selecting arm carried thereby, a

pin projecting from the selecting arm, a. pin guiding means 'including a pair of sets of inclined plates having their adjacent edges bent and disposed in staggered order to form a zigzag path for the travel of the pin, contacts under the control of the selecting arm, and means for sending a. selecting current in one direction during the operating 01! the selecting arm and for sending a current in the reverse direction to draw the pin below all of the plates and permit its return to normal position.

E). in telephone selecting apparatus, an electro-magnet having a polarized armature, :1 selecting arm connected thereto, a pin proj ting from the selecting arm, a. fixed stop with which said pin engages, a spring engaging the arm and tendingto hold the pin in contact with the stop, a pin guiding means formed of a pair of sets of inclined plates having their adjacent edges bent and disposed in staggered relation to form a zigzag path for the travel of the pin, means for sending a current in one direction through the electro-inagnet during a selecting operation,

and means for sending a current in the reverse direction to Withdraw the pin from all of the plates to'permit its return to the initial position of rest In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses. c

' WILLIAM L). WATKINS. Witnesses I .Txo. E. I'AllKl-Zll,

r1. HUME "ALBERT. 

